Householders in the North West among least energy savvy

Diane King

People in the North West could be saving £185 per year in energy bills, a new survey claims.

However, despite rising fuel prices meaning an average annual bill of £1,225, 62 per cent of UK householders don’t do anything about it.

This is despite the fact that shopping around could save an average of £180 per year.

But with little over one third of Brits using comparison websites to switch supplier, this means that the majority are paying almost 20 per cent more on gas and electricity than they need to.

The energy savers and the energy spenders varied from region to region. The South West came out on top, with 43 per cent scouting for a better deal to save around £164 a year, while the Scots were revealed to be the least savvy, with 71 per cent losing out on an average of £183 per annum.

However, the survey of 2,000 people by Westland London showed that energy bills are a low priority for most of us. Only 32 per cent of people check their fuel bills on a regular basis and just 22 per cent actually know the rate they are paying.

However, around half of us have considered looked into a more environmentally friendly way to heat their home - which is wise, as heating is the main factor when it comes to energy expenditure.

“With the price of gas and electricity on the up and up, it makes sense that people are looking to alternative fuel sources when it comes to heating their homes,” said Anthony Bridgman from Westland London (http://www.westlandlondon.com).

“Installing a wood burning fireplace is not only set to save you on your energy bills, but the environmental impact is far lower.”